Brilliant Course

Simon and Judi came over from Dublin to do my Introduction to Sourdough course, a “one day” course over two days (two hours mixing doughs afternoon day one/five or so hours baking day two, fun and pizza lunch included). They came with intent, as you might say. Being busy people with family and work commitments […]

Pain Hirigoyen

Now this is what you call a cheese stall: Actually it’s less than a quarter of Cremerie Nicole Hirigoyen on the market in Arcachon. Mme Hirigoyen sadly died while we were on holiday a few weeks back. She’d been on the market for decades and, although we never had a conversation, in a sort of […]

Dead Starter

Steffi came round for dinner Friday night. She shamefacedly admitted she’d killed her starter – she did a sourdough course with me several weeks ago. I couldn’t be angry with her – she had a bottle of finest pear schnapps in one hand and red wine in the other. Plus I didn’t believe her starter […]

Arcaboulangeries

Well that five weeks went fast. You remember last year’s report on the state of Arcachon’s bakeries. Here’s the update. First the good news. The boulanger from La Chocolatine who got himself run over and hospitalised is well back at work: I don’t know how he does it. He works from morning til night in […]

First Breads

Well we’ve been in Arcachon for twelve days already and haven’t been slouching in the baking department. Set a new record: arrived Sunday evening, refreshed starter with flour cunningly stashed in hold baggage (only a couple of hundred grams), baked first loaf Monday evening. I bet you think that’s a Pane Pugliese. Well it’s not. […]

Cloche Encounters II

The Mark II model from Crochendy Bethesda Pottery – well, same dome, new base. As well as being beautiful it works great. After a couple of tests I reckon 800g dough is about the maximum it will take (670g loaf weight). New version, with slightly larger dome, on sale in the pottery 40 Bethesda High […]

Simplicity

Simplicity is beauty in bread: Orange & Cumin Flatbread

Easter Bunnies

Wha’d’ya mean what are they supposed to be? Rabbits. Easter Bunnies. Taste good for breakfast. Raisin Challah dough substituting mixed preserved fruits – 50% white/50% wholemeal. Thanks to Luisa Jane Rusconi and Maruska Riva for inspiration.

Bara Bwtocs

It was supposed to be a two-strand turban: But I made a bit of an arse of it:

Blessed are the Cheesemakers

Used the last of the current batch of Carrie Rimes’ cheese on a couple of Green Grape & Brefu Bach Focacce- she finally got one to call her own. Can’t tell you how good it is to have raw materials of this quality on hand. You’d have to go to France to get anything like […]